EMDR as a Special Form of Ego State Psychotherapy
The similarities and differences between Ego State Therapy and EMDR are summarized in the following tables:
Similarities
Concepts and Techniques | Ego State Therapy | EMDR |
---|---|---|
Identify and amplify the problematic ego state by intense focusing on ego state components. | Focuses more on affective, somatic, and imagistic components, but focuses on cognitive when relevant | Focuses more on cognitions, but uses other ego state components as well |
Facilitate associational linkages derived from the ego state infrastructure by encouraging spontaneous associations. | Therapist looks for subtle shifts and amplifies them. | Associations come spontaneously during EMDR alternations |
Facilitate an ego state shift from the problematic, stuck ego state to a more adaptive ego state. | Therapist asks, “What needs to happen to get relief?” | Associations often come spontaneously during EMDR. Cognitive ego state components are emphasized. |
Provide structure directing patient toward new ego state associations when satisfactory spontaneous associations fail to occur. | Therapist uses imagistic content or knowledge of ego state system to direct patient’s process. (Ego State Interweave) | Primarily cognitive ego state associations are encouraged. (Cognitive Interweave) |
Resolve overt or covert conflicts perpetuating an impasse by reducing the dissociative barriers between the conflicted ego states. | Uses imagistic internal dialog to reduce dissociation and to facilitate integrative process, among all relevant ego states and using all relevant ego state components | Uses cognitive interweave supported by alternating hemispheric stimulation to resolve and integrate conflicting ego states without explicitly identifying all parties to the conflict |
Differences
Ego State Therapy | EMDR |
---|---|
Offers a general theory of personality and psychopathology to inform the therapeutic process, particularly during impasses | Offers a specific technique, modified through accumulative clinical experience to inform therapeutic process, particularly during impasses, without a general theory of personality or psychopathology |
Uses hypnotic techniques to undo dissociative barriers | EMDR generally spontaneously bypasses dissociative barriers. |
Uses imagistic/affective corrective emotional experiences to facilitate development and integration of new neuronal associational pathways | Alternating hemispheric visual, auditory, or tactile stimulation appear spontaneously to facilitate development and integration of new neuronal associations. |